Library News
H1N1/Swine Flu Information
If you have a fever (100.4°F) and a cough or a sore throat, please do not come to school! You may have swine flu. Queens College and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) ask students with flulike symptoms to immediately self-quarantine. Do not to go to the college's Health Center, as that action will likely overwhelm resources and spread the H1N1 virus around campus. If serious complications develop or if you have an underlying medical condition, then you should, of course, seek a doctor's advice. See the following flyers for further instructions:
Up to date information about swine flu can be found at the CDC home page or the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
To help prevent the spread of swine flu, hand sanitizers will soon be placed throughout the library. Please look for them near entrances, exits, computers and photocopiers.
The Queens College Libraries Annual Report 2008–2009
It is my pleasure to present the Annual Report of the Queens College Libraries, 2008–2009. During the year, a number of accomplishments and achievements took place which underscored the dedication and diligence of faculty and staff who worked in support of the College's teaching and research mission. Thanks go to them, as well as to those who administered our public and technical services units. As Chief Librarian, I continually notice and appreciate the many activities that take place in the Libraries all of which contribute to the College being a better place for its students and faculty. The delivery of innovative and inspired services, making available first-rate resources (print and electronic), all set in modern, functional, and efficiently organized facilities or via online, now and into the future is our collective goal. Working respectfully and collegially, we try to ensure that today is better than yesterday and tomorrow is better than today. Queens College deserves no less.
Staffing
The Libraries were enhanced by the addition of new staff members, including Adjuncts, Student Assistants, College Assistants, Interns, and volunteers. Some staff left the Libraries due to graduation and other career and life opportunities. The special contributions of many of them are detailed in the unit reports, found below.
Ken Rosenberg joined the Library faculty as Acquisitions Librarian and Nancy Foasberg as Humanities Librarian. These are two very significant positions in the Library and I am glad they have joined our ranks. In order to better coordinate the Public Services units of the Library, Prof. Michael Miller accepted my invitation to serve as Assistant Librarian for Public Services. During the past year, Prof. Miller also earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. Tara Mathison made a valuable contribution as our new Assistant Curator of the Art Center last year. Dr. Benjamin Alexander, Assistant Professor in GSLIS, contributed his considerable energy and expertise to establishing Special Collections and Archives as a more viable unit in the Libraries. We have great plans to enhance our custodianship of the College's primary source materials and to get them incorporated into the College curriculum. Last year witnessed the dawn of the “Teaching Archive,” with GSLIS Archives Administration students doing outstanding work with special collections and archival materials.
Library Renovations
I would also like to report on the progress of the many renovations being considered for the Rosenthal Library. Funded by the Borough of Queens President, we anticipated construction to begin during the Fall 2009 Semester on Levels Three and Two. Design work and final planning continues for a new entrance and Access Services Suite, a Research Services Office and Mini-Lab, and new carpet and furniture for Level Three. Level Two will feature a new Computer Lab, Copy Center, and Instruction Classroom. These updates will make the Rosenthal Library more functional and more comfortable for our many users. We are also anticipating building a privately-funded Special Collections Seminar Room and Exhibit Space, also for Level Three. During the past year, Levels One, Two, portions of Three, and the main stairwell were re-carpeted, thanks to the support of the College Administration.
A very important “renovation” took place in the digital realm: Our new website, engineered by Prof. James T. Mellone (our Web Resources Coordinator over the past two years) and David Williams (Web Technician) was launched last year. The new website has significantly improved the public services and information the Library provides to its users, and how the Library accomplishes this work. This enhanced portal to the resources of the Libraries is just as important as any “bricks and mortar” improvements we might make.
Please enjoy the various Library unit reports, prepared by those who have earned our thanks and gratitude for a good year and a job well done.
Robert A. Shaddy, Ph.D.
Professor and Chief Librarian
Copy Services
Network Printing and Copying services in Rosenthal have been relocated to Level 2. These services are being managed by the Office of Converging Technologies. Please contact the OCT help desk (x74444) with any issues.
Representative John Lewis Visits Rosenthal Library
Representative John Lewis (Georgia's 5th District), an elder statesman of the Civil Rights Movement, visited the Rosenthal Library on Commencement Day, May 28, 2009.
Representative Lewis co-founded and chaired the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), organized voter registration drives and community action programs during the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer, and the historic march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965 along with Dr. Martin Luther King. We are pleased Representative Lewis was able to view our Rotunda Exhibit and meet with QC alumni and former faculty members who participated in the 1960's Civil Rights Movement.
PageDown for Spring 2009
Read the new issue of our PageDown Newsletter for the latest Library news.
